The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-15

friends have asked You for absolute pardon. They
feel the injustice done them 50 intensely that they
cannot teconcil the idea of commutation of the
sentence with consciousness of innocence; Others,
among them myself, while possessed of the
same feeling of indignation can perhaps more
calmly and dis aSsionately look upon the matter
MS it stands. They do not regard the fact that
through systematic course of Icing distorting in
venting and slGndering the press has succeeded in
creating sentiment of bitterness and hatred among
great portit Ii OF the popuace so that one man,
matter how powerful how courageous how lust lie
be cannot possibly overcome it. They hold that to
overcome that sentiment OF influence thereof would
almost be an impossbity Not wishing, therefore.to
place Your eNCellency in the still more embarrassing
position. between the blind ihnatcisE % a msin
formed public on hand and Justice the other,
they conclude to submit the case 10 you uncondition
implorc YOU not to let This difference Of action
nay ;iale any MelSh' W.tn you III deteImin.
aesro OF Of the 'T rrose6u 9 70 s o me- onG
let my co defendants OIL with milder punishment
was quite apparent and manifest II seemed tome
pc Sausiel with one life. states Attorney tirinnell,
IN his argument intimate this Very plainly. care
MOI 70 protest my innocence ot9ny crime, and OF
that and leave the rest TO the ind mcnt of history
But TO you wish TO address myself now, as alleged
afGh-consplraor tleaylng the tact that never have
belonged TO any kind of conspiracy out of the ques
tqn aitogetherA usacrice of life there must be
Will not my life suffice The states attorney of
Cook county asked fer no more. Take this then,
take my life. offer il to you that you may satisfy
the Hiy OF the semi arbarc mob and save those of
Iades is as willing to die and perhaps SO, than
am. II is not for their sake that ! make this
prolier nut IN the name OF humanity and progress
in the interest Of the penoeablc il possible, develop
mcnt Of social forces that are destined 10 lift our
race upon higher and better plane OF civilization,
III tle name OF the traditions OF our country leg
you to prevent a seVep-fold muir Ter Of men whose
only crime is that they are idealiss that they long
for better future for all. Ii legal murder there
must be let mine suffice A. SPIES.
SPRINGFIELD, H., November 10.-Foliow-
ing is the governors decision in full in the
anarchist case;
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, SPRNGTELD, November TO-
On the goth day of III gust, 1856 in Cook county
criminal court, August Spies, Albert II. Parsons,
Samuel fielden, Michael Schwab, Adolph Fischer,
George Engel and Louis Lining were found guilty
by verdict of jury and afterwards sentenced to
be hanged for the murder of Matthias J. Degun. An
appeal was taken from such finding and sentence 10
the supreme coult of the state. That court, upon
final hearing, and after mature dclbeTation, unani
moasly affirmed the Judgment of the court below
The case now comes before by petition Of Il de-
tndanS for consideration as governor of the state
II the letters OF Albert Parsons Adolph Fischer
George Engel and Louis l.ingg demanding ''uncon-
ditonal release" or, us they express it. berty or
DEATH" and protesting in the strongest language
against mercy or communication of the sentence pro-
nounced against them. Can they be considered pc
ttions? pardon, could 1t be granted, which might
imply any guilt whatever upon the part of either of
them, would not be such viudcation as they de-
mand. Executive intervention upon the grounds
Insisted upon by the four aboye-named persons.
could, in no proper sense be deemed exercise Of
the constitutional power to grant reprieves, commu
tati0ns and pard0ns unless based upon u belief on
my part of their entire innocence Of the crime of
which they stand convicted careful considera
ton of the evidence in the record Of the trial of the
parties well as of all alleged and claimed forthem
outside of the record has failed to produce NJ on
my mind any impression tending to impeach the
verdict of the jury, or the Judgment OF the trial
court of the supreme court affirming the guilt Of
tie parties Satisfied, therefore, as am, Of their
guilt, am precluded from considering the question
of the Communication of the sentences OF Albert r.
Parsons Adolph Fischer, George Engel and Louis
Lingg to imprisonment IN the penitentiary, rs they
emphatcaly declare they Will not accept such
commutation.
samuel Tielden Michael schwab and August
Spies unite IN the etition for executive clcmcney'
fielden and Sthwab in addition, present separate
and supplementary petitions for Communication Of
fled of the guilt of all the parties found in the
verdict of the jury, which was sustained by the
Judgment of the courts, most careful consideration
clusion that the sentence of the law as TO Samuel
Fielden and Michael Schwab may be modified
to each of them in the interest of humanity and
without doing violence to public justice. And as to
said Samuel Fielder and Michael schwsb. the sen
tence is committed TO Imprisonment In the penitan
taTy for life, AS TO all the other above named de-
PENDANTS, do not feel justified in interfering with
the Sc ntence of the court. While / would gladly
have come to IL different conclusion in regard to the
sentence Of the defendants, August Spies, Adolph
Fischer George Engel, Albert X. Parsons and Louis
Lingg, regret to say that under solemn sense Of
my obligations OF Office, have been unable 10 do
80 RICHARD ]. OGLEsBY, Governor.
When the news of the Communication Of the
sentence Of Eiclden and ScWab was received
at the Jail, there was an extraordinary scene
of activity. The news was sent TO the rela-
tiyes Of all the condemned men and in a short
time they began to arrive at the Jail, and the
first OF the women to come was Mrs. Schwab.
Soon after Schwab was brought from his cell
to the main office. His wife quickly advanced
to him and throwing her arms about his neck
burst into tears. Schwab returned the en-
brace in a calm manner and soon the two
were chatting quietly together.
After this, Spies and Fischer were brought
from their cell and taken TO the jail library,
Engel was brought to the private office of Mr..
FolZ. This was done for the purpose of
allowing relatives to take their last
interviews. The first one of the women TO
arrive after Mrs. Schwab was Miss Engel
daughter Of the condemned anarchist When
the two met in the private Office there was an
outburst Of grief, which 1t is impossible to de-
scribe. The father and daughter chung to each
other and sobbed convulsiyely. Their CONVEX.
satiOn was in German and listened TO only by
Deputy Oleson. LThen came Mrs. Spies,
mother Of August. She had been waiting out
side for an hour and half Her sobs could
be head through the corridors Of the building.
She did not stay long in the library with her
SON. and on her exit from the iail, Mrs Fischer
was admitted. She went into the library and
her lamentations were heard above the tramp
OF the deputies, who swarmed about the places
But the crownin9 scene OF all was the visit
Of Nina Van Iant, the proxy wife If
Deputy Eason. As she walked through the
main office she betrayed no emotion, but the
moment she saw August however, her de-
meanor completely changed. and there was
look, then gasp and in a trice the lovers were
in each others arm. A number Of curious
reporters and officers crowded up to the door
Of the library, but it was quickly shut by
deputy The interview between the prisoner
and his faithful dcyotee lasted nearly half
hour.
Mrs. Lucy Parsons created scene in tho
criminal court building about ten o'clock to-
night. Approaching the door which leads 10
the jaiiyard, she demanded permission TO pro-
coed. This was denied.
But must go in 10 see my husband" ex-
claimed Mrs. Parsons.
"You cannot" was the firm reply.
Then the dusky wife Of the anarchist threw
mp her hands and fell 10 the floor IN a dead
faint. 1t took over twenty minutes TO bring
her TO consciousness, but when this was done
she was escorted from the building.
Parsons was not informed Of the episode
Shortly after this Deputy Sheriff Curran
who had been guarding Fischer came into the
jail office from the cell room. He reported
that all the men were awake and talking on
general subjects 10 their guards
About O'Clock tonight bomb was found
by Thomas Maloney in the rear Of the resi-
deneo Of James Brayton The bomb consisted
a.